Skip to content
Louisiana

McKinney-Vento Support for Louisiana School District Liaisons

We understand that as a McKinney-Vento liaison in Louisiana, you likely manage diverse duties within your district. Serving students across Louisiana's unique mix of urban centers, rural parishes, and coastal communities, our mission is to help you become the most effective liaison possible while strengthening your service coordination.

Louisiana
students sitting

The Challenge in Louisiana

Louisiana presents a diverse and challenging landscape for addressing student homelessness, encompassing major urban centers, vast rural areas, and vulnerable coastal regions. The state faces a worsening lack of affordable housing.

17,777 students were identified in the 2022-2023 school year; total enrollment was almost 720k; Louisiana's identification rate for students experiencing homelessness was at 2.5%.1

Housing

A lack of safe, affordable, and stable housing is a pervasive struggle across Louisiana, significantly impacting educational access and stability for homeless students.
 
  • Many students experience homelessness by living "doubled up" with friends or family due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons, with 79.3% of those identified in 2022-2023 school year as having this type of accommodation.2
  • In urban areas, efforts are underway to address homelessness, but these centers concentrate significant housing needs. Homelessness is often more visible here, with students residing in emergency shelters, motels, or transitional housing.
  • Rural communities are also impacted by the statewide worsening housing affordability. Homelessness here is often more "hidden," as formal services are scarcer, and families may rely more on informal networks or live in substandard conditions.
  • Coastal communities face tremendous risk from rapid land loss and potential sinking due to environmental hazards. This creates a compounding migration cycle, as residents are forced to move, weakening community ties. Current mitigation and buyout programs often have barriers and may not offer sufficient resources for relocation.

Transportation

Limited and costly transportation options across Louisiana contribute significantly to chronic absenteeism and difficulties in school attendance for homeless students. The McKinney-Vento Act mandates that school districts ensure transportation is not a barrier to enrollment and attendance.
 
  • In urban centers like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, challenges can include the expense of public transit, navigating complex transportation networks, and managing long commutes to maintain school stability, particularly for students whose temporary housing is far from their school of origin.
  • In rural areas, the primary obstacles are the lack of public transportation options and vast distances between temporary residences and schools. Reliance on limited school bus routes or the absence of city systems compounds barriers to consistent school attendance, affecting access to education and other essential services, especially when combined with environmental displacements.

Did you know?

The national average of children and youth identified as experiencing homelessness is 3% of students enrolled in public education.3 Louisiana identified 2.5% during the 2022-2023 school year, slightly below the national average.

people looking at board

How McKinney-Vento.org Supports Louisiana Liaisons

Streamlined Compliance

We help you meet federal regulations with up-to-date checklists, policy templates, and annual audit preparation tailored for Louisiana schools.

Enhanced Identification: Your "Army of Awareness"

Custom training materials and awareness campaigns adapted for rural and urban districts help staff recognize housing insecurity early.

Comprehensive Training

Live webinars and on-demand modules-covering trauma-informed practices, transportation logistics, and rural outreach-available year round.

Data Management and Funding Support

Tools to track students, manage eligibility, and access local/federal funding (e.g., Title I, II) help boost resource allocation.

Expert Guidance and Advocacy Support

Subject Matter Experts with many years of McKinney-Vento implementation are ready to provide support on challenging cases, work through situations and help you connect with resources to support your work.
Testimonial

Success with McKinney-Vento.org

Personalized student care - cropped

 

 

Featured

“ As I changed school districts this last year, I have become more aware of the homelessness in the school systems. I have moved to a district with many newcomers and most have come with out parents or guardians. This information is very helpful. I am going to pay more attention to situations and help when needed. ”

Cynthia J.

Louisiana

Why Louisiana Districts Choose McKinney-Vento.org

check-mark McKinney-Vento Expertise

McKinney-Vento.org delivers specialized training and compliance tools for identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness under federal education law.

 

check-mark Proven Results Since 2014

Our track record speaks for itself – from small rural districts to large urban systems, we've consistently delivered measurable improvements in homeless student support and educational stability.

 

check-mark The Only Turnkey Solution Available

Stop piecing together incomplete solutions. We provide the industry's only comprehensive, turnkey McKinney-Vento implementation system designed specifically for today's educational environment.

State Coordinator Contact

Dr. Antiqua Hunter, Education Program Consultant
Phone: (225) 219-0205
 

Citations

1,2,3 Child and Youth Homelessness Data Profiles powered by University of Michigan Poverty Solutions and SHC
  https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/schoolhouseconnection/viz/ChildandYouthHomelessnessDataProfiles/National 

Ready to Better Support Louisiana's Homeless Students?

Join the Louisiana districts using McKinney-Vento.org to improve outcomes for students experiencing homelessness.

We'll help you find the funding and build internal support to make this program successful in your district.

Book your personalized demo
Liaison Portal